Artist Transforms Ordinary Bananas Into Whimsical Works of Art

Graphic designer Stephan Brusche (aka iSteef) continues his journey to transform bananas into art. These Fruitdoodles, as the Dutch artist has dubbed them, are one part sculpture, one part drawing, and one part pure imagination. Brusche is able to see unlimited possibilities with his edible canvas, though his work mainly focuses on animals, pop culture, and Biblical stories.

Brusche’s foray into food art started by chance several years ago. “It all started a few years back when I just started using Instagram. I was at work and I just wanted to post something,” he recounts. “I then noticed my banana and I figured it would make a nice post if I just drew a little happy face on it. I took a ballpoint pen and just started drawing. I was pretty amazed how pleasant a banana peel is to draw on. After that I tried to come up with new ideas for drawings while using the shape of the banana in all kinds of clever ways. Trying to keep pushing myself I eventually started to carve in the banana peel as well.”

Since that auspicious beginning, Brusche has published two books and continues to push his craft. His pure joy for manipulating the fruit is evident in his work. Some banana transformations are completed with just a few manipulations, while others require massive carving in order to take shape. Either way, they are a whimsical ode to the things that are important to the artist.